Transcript DBQ: Western View of China

In the 19th Century. Examine the documents that follow
and discuss Western views regarding China and the
Chinese in the
19th century. What additional documents could you
use to answer this question?
Opium Conflict
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 Doc 1: British historian and professor Thomas Arnold in a letter to W. W. Hull,
March 18, 1840 – protesting conflict with China over the smuggling of opium.
Note use of phrases – “dreadful guilt,” demoralizing drug,” and “supposed
superiority.” Arnold was a liberal although students probably don’t know that.
POV – educated and logical although emotional in tone; could be influential
and writing to convince Hull that allowing opium smuggling will harm Britain
Unequal treaties
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 Doc 2: Treaty of Nanjing (Nanking), 1842 – Official
document, British demands to China after First
Opium War – reparations, open ports, Hong Kong,
etc. POV: sounds friendly but is quite unfriendly –
victor to loser - arrogant; imperialistic – gaining
territory
Influence of textile
industry
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 Doc 3: Rich China crepe shawl with embroidered
border, The World of Fashion, July 1854, Plate 1.
Fashion magazine showing latest styles - this one
highlighting Chinese silk. POV – Fashion needs of
rich have no “borders,” see China as source of the
best silk
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Doc 4: “Domestic Life of Woman.” Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal 17 (1886): 153154. From an article describing the daily life of Chinese women. Indicates that women
know their place – in the home – and adjust to their position over time. Author indicates
manners and morals are superior to European peasants. Their faults are also noted. POV –
Christian missionary, looking to convert – especially young women, also Victorian – note
the description as favorable with regards to household role
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 Doc 5: 'Mrs. Ford', interviewed by the Works Progress Administration (1930s)
recalls her memories from the 1870s. Recalls Chinese immigrants as honest and
industrious. Notes secondary position as immigrants – servants, work tailings
left by white men, butt of practical jokes by whites. POV – sympathetic, student
could point out that at 70 + years of age her memory might be suspect but the
details would refute that; impressed with their work ethic
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 Doc 6: “The Natural History of a Chinese Girl” Newspaper article doesn’t really get
into the title. Points out the immense poverty of the mass of people and criticizes
Confucianism (and by inference the Qing government) for not “advancing” and
moving people out of crowded cities to take advantage of vast spaces and resources
of China. POV – Social Darwinist – note references to “advance” and “progress” ;
very critical – perhaps concerned, also interested in commerce – note the audience
and the reference to “advanced political economy” and “world in need of China
today”
Famine as a result of
imperialism?
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Doc 7: Woodcut and commentary; Committee of the China Famine Relief Fund, The Famine
in China (London: C. Kegan Paul and Co., 1878). One of a series of woodcuts and
commentary about famine relief for Chinese. Millions died in this famine. POV – concern,
possibly Christian (English), critical of wealthy, somewhat sarcastic
Social Darwin political
cartoons
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Doc 8: Political cartoon, Melbourne Punch – Australia imposed a duty (import tax) on
opium in 1856. The idea was to stop use of opium by Chinese although it really became a
source of income for the government. POV – cartoon shows that duty is aimed at Chinese
although many Australians used opium and opium derivatives in “medicines” and
recreationally. Could be called racist – certainly aimed, like document 9, at a specific
ethnicity
Foreign policy
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Doc 9: Handbill, Chinese Exclusion Act, United States, 1882 public notice announcing meeting to celebrate
passing of Chinese Exclusion Act which prohibited Chinese immigration for 10 years and which was
subsequently severely restricted until the 1960s. Act was passed as a public reaction to more whites
needing jobs as gold mining became less profitable. POV – economic concerns, could also be called racist
or Social Darwinist, targeted at Chinese specifically.
Who are the figures
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 Doc 10: French political cartoon, 1890s – China as a pie being carved
up by European powers and Japan. Note inclusion of Japan. Note
aggressiveness of Germany’s Kaiser and that he is specifically looking
at England’s Queen Victoria. POV – could be seen in different ways –
critical of imperialistic designs of European powers, concern over
international squabbling (growing aggression in Europe), educational
– educating public on international affairs.
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More foreign policy
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 Doc 11: Open Door Notes, United States Secretary of State John Hay, 1899
Open Door Policy of U.S. to open trade equally throughout China for all
Western powers and Japan. United States did not claim a “sphere of influence.”
Note that it is not critical of commercial imperialism, only exclusionary tactics.
POV – concern of being shut out of China trade, political so perhaps influenced
by private commercial interests
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Possible Groupings:
Doc 1, 8
Doc 2, 3, 9, 10, 11
Doc 5, 8, 9
Doc 4, 5
Doc 6, 7
Doc 4, 6, 8
Doc 6, 9
Darwinism)
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Opium
Trade although 10 is inferred
Immigrants
Positive qualities
Poverty of people
Critical of characteristics
Less advanced (racism, Social
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 Possible Additional Documents:
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 Note – documents from Asians probably will not be able to address
that question as the question wants Western views of China and
Chinese. Note also that two documents were either written by or
addressed to missionaries
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 English merchant – willingness to trade drugs to make profit
 Pope – attempts to gain ground in converting to Catholicism
 British naval officer – overextended, superiority over Chinese
 Church (Protestant or Catholic) asking for missionaries – reasons
why
 Western art collector – Chinese art and porcelain becomes very
popular in 19th century
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 Possible Thesis:
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 Europeans and Americans held mixed views of
the Chinese during the nineteenth century
vacillating between wanting their valuable trade, but
also wanting to take advantage of them, and to
exclude them from Western homelands because of
racism